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Movies of the Mind

In Genesis 39:1-12, we read of Joseph’s test with an Egyptian woman. Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers, was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. When Potiphar saw that Joseph was blessed by God and a good man, he put him in charge of his household. Enter the wife of Potiphar, who looks upon Joseph and decides she must have him. She is allowing lustful imaginations in her heart to seep out and result in immoral actions.

Lady (and I use the term loosely) Potiphar approached Joseph multiple times and commands him to be with her. Joseph exemplified Spirit-led purity. His thoughts were of God and the meditations of his heart led him to have a strong sense of right and wrong as well as fierce loyalty to his master, Potiphar. One day she approaches Joseph when no one else is around. Now I would imagine that Mrs. Potiphar was an attractive woman. Potiphar is a high-up, well-to-do in Egypt so I tend to picture a trophy wife sort of woman.

Yet she cannot persuade Joseph to sin and commit adultery with her. Why?? Is she unattractive? Like I said, I wouldn’t imagine so. Is Joseph in a relationship that is providing him physical satisfaction? No. Does he somehow not have a desire for female attention? No, I believe he is a normal, red-blooded male so I’m sure this truly was a test for him yet when she says lie with me that last time, not only does he refuse, but he removes himself from the situation by running away!

The meditations of his heart had been pure and without guilt so when the time came he was able to react swiftly and with the strength God provided to do the right thing. Before anyone loses the battle to purity with their body, they first lose it in their mind! From past experience I know this to be true. When we allow impure thoughts to become little movies that play in our heads, we are on dangerous ground! Scenarios that we think are innocent fantasies are anything but. We never know when a situation may arise that would put us in that very scenario. Now if I am facing a situation that I played out in my mind over and over again, chances are I will react just as I did in my mind. If Joseph had allowed impure thoughts about Mrs. Potiphar, or any other woman for that matter, he probably wouldn’t have had the strength to withstand her advances. To truly win the battle over immorality, we must submit each thought to the power of God and dwell only on the things that are pleasing to Him and bring Him glory! 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and to bring EVERY thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

“casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

-2 Corinthians 10:5

I have started asking myself a question- if every thought I have were turned into a movie for everyone to see- what would the rating be? G? PG? PG-13? R? Worse??!! God sees the movies in our mind each and every moment…what are we forcing Him to watch??